News

The Winners And Losers Of 2013

2013-05-01T19:06:46+00:00

Herewith, “Mostly Politics’” first post-2012 winners and losers column – occasioned by last week’s news that Colleen Hanabusa has decided to run against Brian Schatz next year to fill the two years remaining of the late Daniel K. Inouye’s term in the United States Senate.

The biggest winners? The media folks who sell political advertising. None thought they could match the oodles spent last year on an open seat in the 2nd Congressional District, an open U.S. Senate seat, a fiercely contested mayoral race, and a rematch in the 1st District between Hanabusa and Republican Charles Djou. Add Pacific Resource Partnership and other political advertisers, and politics practically printed money for Hawaii’s various media outlets throughout 2012. Read More

New fee could save money for Oahu drivers

2013-04-24T19:11:12+00:00

Gas prices in Hawaii keep on climbing. And with every fill up, you’re helping to fix our roads with a county gas tax. But what if that tax went away and your car registration went up instead?

The idea of a highway user fee is gaining steam. It would save some drivers cash while costing others extra.

It’s no secret that Oahu’s roads are in poor shape. To fix them, the city needs more cash. Read More

School land-use bill hits roadblock

2013-04-24T19:00:08+00:00

A councilman seeks clarity in the plan, which he says is too similar to the PLDC
A Honolulu city councilman and others have raised late objections to a bill that would authorize the private development of public school land, undermining its chances as state House and Senate negotiators approach a deadline on Friday. Read More

Council unanimously passes sidewalk nuisance bill

2013-04-17T18:53:57+00:00

HONOLULU —Councilman Ikaika Anderson held up pictures of De-Occupy Honolulu campers at Thomas Square before the Honolulu City Council passed Bill 7 by a vote of 9-0 Wednesday.
After nearly 18 months at Thomas Square, Anderson said residents are getting fed up with tents and other items that protestors place on city sidewalks surrounding the historic park.

“Enough is enough,” said Anderson as the Council discussed the bill. “Let’s pass Bill 7, (and) return our public sidewalks to all of Honolulu’s citizens.” Read More

Mayor: 77 miles of road repaved in 3 months; 14 projects out to bid

2013-04-16T19:20:16+00:00

HONOLULU —Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he's already knocked 77 miles off his road repaving "to-do" list since he took the mayoral post three months ago.

And he just put 14 more major road projects, worth $106 million, out to bid.

“(The public) is demanding, screaming, and crying out for a game-changing road repaving effort and I think we're doing exactly that,” he said at a news conference on Monday.

“Holding a press conference to alert the council as to what the mayors plan's are, is not what I would call 'working together,’" said councilmember Ikaika Anderson, who was surprised by Monday’s news.

He said he's skeptical the mayor will get the money he needs to reach his goal, unless he's willing to cut vacant positions, or add a vehicle fee to make up the difference.Read more

Council wants limits on the use of funds from empty job posts

2013-04-14T19:13:47+00:00

Key members of the City Council are taking steps to tighten the rules for filling vacant job positions so that city agencies cannot spend the money on other purposes.
Too much is being diverted to pay for such things as mileage expenses and cashing out unused vacation pay for retiring employees, says Councilman Ikaika Anderson. Read More

Push to expand smoking ban

2013-04-11T19:14:43+00:00

A limited smoking ban on certain Oahu beaches became law two days ago, and there is now a push to expand the rules to all city beaches on the island.

Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson pushed for an islandwide beach smoking ban last month, but was unsuccessful. He is now introducing a new bill that he hopes will garner support from colleagues.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell supports the idea and has said that he would sign Anderson’s bill into law if the measure is approved by the council.

A statewide smoking law was passed in 2006 and banned smoking inside and within 20 feet of workplace entrances and businesses. Only four citations have been issued since then and the number of recorded complaints has gone from 220 in 2006 to 39 in 2012. Read More

City Council Overrides Mayor’s Veto of Bill 11—Hawaii News Now

2012-08-18T20:40:28+00:00

A ban on nearly all commercial activity at Kailua and Kalama beach parks is now in effect after the Honolulu City Council voted to override Mayor Peter Carlisle's veto of Bill 11. Council member Ikaika Anderson, who represents Kailua, authored the bill after receiving numerous complaints about the proliferation of commercial ventures at Kailua Beach Park. Read More

Mahalo from Ikaika

2012-08-13T17:10:09+00:00

Mahalo!

Thank you to the people of Windward Oahu for re-electing me to the Honolulu City Council. I am humbled to be entrusted with the responsibility to continue representing my friends and neighbors on the Windward side.

It has been an honor to meet so many of you during the course of this campaign and it reinforced what I’ve always known as a life-long Windward resident – that our pride in this community and our unified commitment can help better Windward Oahu for future generations.

As I promised when first elected in 2009 to serve this district, I will always make the effort to listen to your concerns, ideas and constructive criticism. You can reach me through my website, www.ikaikaanderson.com and through the City and County of Honolulu’s site – www.honolulu.gov.

Malama Pono,
Ikaika

Council outlaws Commercial Activity at Kailua Beach—Star Advertiser

2012-07-12T19:12:31+00:00

Far fewer kayaks and kite surfers will ply the ocean off Kailua Beach Park. Windward Councilman Ikaika Anderson, who authored the bill, said the measure is not anti-tourist, but an acknowledgement that the beach and its parking lot are too small.

"Tourists are still able to come to Kailua Beach Park by rental car, by city bus," he said. "They're still able to rent recreational watercraft. They'll just have to be able to get those watercraft to the beach under their own power." Read More